

^iB: 













LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

©Ijait.|^?:.l3api|nB!}f:^o 

' Shelf '.11.^.).. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE TWO ROADS 



wrm A VIVID DKSCKIKTION Ol' 



Sheridan's Ride, 



A\r> 11 IK 



BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK. 



KV 



TRUMAN li. 1) i:\.\lS. 



PRICE. TEN CENTS. 



THE TWO ROADS 



WITH A vivin df:scrii'tion of 



Sheridan's Ride, 



AM) 11 IK 



( OEC 201889 ,) 



BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK. 



f. 



HV 



y 



TRUMAN B. DENNIS. 






^ 



I 

Copyriglited by 

T. B. Dknnj,, 

1889. 

All rights reserved, 

I 



w 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is the aim and hope of the author that this pamphlet 
may not only prove interesting to the general reader, but that 
it may, through God"s blessing and grace, which the author 
most humbly invokes, create a lively interest in spiritual 
things in the hearts of the Christians who may read it ; and 
that it may awaken a desire in the minds of the unbelievers to 
search after, and seek to find the great truths and promises 
that are made in God's word, to the joy and salvation of their 
souls ; for which reason the author has emlcavored to so 
group the circumstances connected with the battle of Cedar 
Creek, th.it they may have a spiritual aspect and bearing, and 
hopes that the public will kindlj' read and carefully consider it 
in that light. The etching which was made especially for this 
work, and was designed by the author, and executed in pen 
and ink drawing by A. R. Wood, an eminent battle scene 
artist of New York, who was also with General Sheridan's 
army at the time, is worth one dollar to cut out and frame, 
and cannot be bought separately for less. 

Most truly yours, 

T. B. DENNIS. 



Whither shall I tjo from Thy spirit, or whither shall I 
flee from Thy presence? If I ascend into Heaven, Tluiu 
art there ; if I make my bed in liell, behold ! Thou art there. 
If I take the wings of'the morninj^, and dwell in the uttermost 
parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy 
right hand shall hold me. 

Brethren ! it must have been a great source of strength to 
King David to know that God"s spirit was always with him, 
and of comfort, to know that (Jod's presence always over- 
shadowed him; in all of his early life he hail unmistakable 
proofs of God's watchful care over him. 

Likewise, it ought to be, and undoubtedly is, a great com- 
fort and help to all Christians to believe and know that God's 
spirit and presence is continually with them : that his loving 
hand leads them, and that the power of His right hanil u|)lio!as 
them ; it certainly is to me ; and it ought to be a matter of 
great concern to the unredeemed to know that they cannot 
possibly escape from God's presence. There is no heights, no 
depths, no lengths, no breadths, nor any secret place where 
they can, for one moment, hide themselves from the all-seeing 
eye of God, who observes their every action and discerns their 
most secret thoughts and motives. 

Fearful, indeed, will be the reckoning for those whose sins 
have not been cleansed, antl whose garments have not been 
made white by the blood of the lamb. 

The picture which David, the great poetic artist, lias 
sketched for us, is one that is most beautiful to the believer, 



arnl one well worth our studv and contemplation. I. for one, 
am glad that he painted it. 

But, brethren 1 I would like to ask, why such sulicitude 
and watchful care over us on tlie part of Gotl ? \\'h\' the 
necessity for His spirit guarding us.' Why for His |)resence 
to surround us, I know that God's wisdom is past fnuling 
out, and that His purposes are not full}- revealed unto us ; hut 
in matters where we are so personallv and individually con- 
cerned, it will be pardonable, vea, praiseworthv, in us ti) seek 
for the cause. 

God does nothing haphazard, or by chance, and wherever 
God's hand is niatle manifest, ymi may be sure that there is a 
motive and an end to be attainei.1, and possibly a necessity 
which prompts God to action ; if so. what is the trouble here .■' 
Shall I tell ynu.' Well, this beautiful jiicture which so en- 
rai)tures us, has a reverse side. Shall I show it to yriu .' Here 
it is. 

Whither shall 1 go, oh, Satan, to escape from thy spirit.' 
or whither shall I flee from thy presence.' If I seek a hermit's 
.retreat in some vast wilderness, thi.iu art there ; if 1 build my 
cottage b}' the lonely seaside, thou tindest me ; if I seek shelter 
in the humble home of the laborer, thy footprints are there to 
be seen. If 1 would hide me in the mansions of the wealthy, 
the stains of thy ])ollutiiig [lower and the odors of thy tlnminion 
repulse me. 

I will flee to the home of the moralist, one whose boast is 
that he ii\es up lo the Law, or nearly so ; that he is better 
than any of the Christians that he knows ; thai he has no 
knowledge of the existence itf a devil — excejit by hearsay — 



anil for these reasons, God is under obligatiims to save him 
and liis lioiise. Surely, I shall be safe there. 

I rinjj; the bell, I step into the large vestibule : while wait- 
ing, I glance behind the door; ho, what is this? A queer 
piece of statuary, indeed, for a moralist's house — one ofsatan's 
imps — with a broad grin of satisfaction spread all over his face. 
It moves, and as it recognizes me its whole demeanor changes, 
and in threatening tones, and with fearful gestures, it charges 
me not to make any disturbance here. These people are 
drifting, quietly and peacefully, down the broad road ; and it 
is better for them to be allowed to go peaceably along than 
for me to be compelled to take them liy force. Almost fright- 
ened out of my senses, I rush for the house of a Christian. 
Surely, I will find peace and rest here. I enter — oh. horrible ! 
the scarred consciences and lacerated, bleeding hearts, warn 
me too forcibh- of the many and recent conflicts with satan. I 
make for the- doors, and meet the Devil, face to face ! 
The Lord save me ! Lord give me the power for victory. 
Ho ! Satan ! whence comest thou .' and wiiat doest thou here .' 
"From going to and fro, up and down, through the earth, 
seeking whom I may, by deceit, by flattery or by violence, de- 
stroy. These Christians are the hardest of all mankind to 
overcome. Many will die rather than surrender ; hence my 
jiersonal presence. 

Hut how dare thou to encroach on the precincts of God's 
ledeemeil ground.' Has not Christ declared that all that God 
gavest me have I kept, except one .' True, but Christ en- 
juinetl on His followers that they watch and pray, lest they 
fall into temptation ; but manv become wearv, and fail asleep 



8 

in Zion, and I come upon them unawares, and hmv I do lacciv 
ate their souls ; some I kill before ever the}- awake. 

JMost of 3-ou, brothers and sisters, have heartl of Sheridan's 
Ride. I was with his armv at the time, and know some facts 
and circumstances that you will not find in history. Hemmed 
in on either side by the rugged ranges of the blue mountains, 
lies the Shenandoah Valley traversed lengthwise, crosswise, 
and at right and loft aii;,des. In- small rivers and large creeks; 
about sixteen miles below Winchester, Cedar Creek crosses it, 
from S. W. to N. E On the S. E. side of the creek the 
country is s<Hnewhat broken and partly covered with forests. 
About four miles to the south is a long bold ridge called 
Fisher's Hill, up whose bold front the Winchester and Stanton 
turnpike winds it way. On this ridge the rebel General Early 
with his army, which had been recently reinforced, was 
strongly posted, on the 15th of November, 1864. 

On the north and north-western side of Cedar Creek lies 
several plateaus or low table-lands, with small grades or em- 
bankments between them ; back of these the ground gradually 
ri.ses for a mile or more, to a ridge, which slopes off again to- 
wartls Winchester. On the evening of the iSth the Union 
army, under command of Major-General Sheridan, was en- 
camped, facing towards the south, and but a short distance 
from the creek, on those table-lands First came the 8th 
Corps, on a slope, immediately to the right of the turnpike ; 
next to them, on their right, on a stretch of table-land, was a 
part of the 19th Corps. About two miles to the left, at the 
junction of Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, the 'ith 
Corps was encamped, in a strong position. All of these camjis 



were fortified with breast-works, with their batteries in position, 
and was thought to be strong enough to resist any force that 
the rebels would be likely to have to bring against them, and 
besides, the ollicers and men were all old and wcll-trainetl 
soldiers, who had faced death on many a hard-fought field, 
and who had so nobly and bravely routed the rebel army out 
of Winchester, on the iSth of September, previous. 

General Sheridan, not anticipating an attack from the de- 
feated enemy, made his headquarters in Winchester. A few 
days previous General .Sheridan had been called to Washing- 
ton on important business, which fact was undoubtedly con- 
veyed to General Karly by some of the many rebels that were 
permitted to live within our lines. On the iSth there was a 
reconnoisance made to within a short distance ofFi.sher's Hill, 
and no indication of any movement on the part of the enemy 
was discovered. 

About half a mile to the south ol Cedar Creek, through 
fields and forests, acro.ss the valley, stretched the Union picket 
line, which, under the circumstances and peaceful appearance 
of the enemy, was thought to be all the safeguard that was 
needed, and the camp-guards, which ought always to be kept 
]iostcd around the camp in an enemy's country, was dispensed 
with, at least that was the case in the 8Ui Corps. As soon as 
the rebel General learned that the great commander had gone 
on a long journey, he began to bestir himself, that he miglil 
take advantage of the loyal soldiers while they were deprived 
of the counsels, wisdom and warlike spirit .of their great and 
good leader. He immediately sent out his spies, to seek out 
the weak places and unguarded points in the loyal camp. It 



10 

so happened that one of the corps was under marching orders, 
(tliai is, was ordered to keej) themselves in reatliness to march 
at a moment's notice, witli three day's rations). Some of his 
s])ies soon learned of this fact, and also the position of the 
picket line that this corps picketed ; after which, and carefully 
looking: over the a;round in front of that part of the line which 
was in the woods, and the best and easiest approaches to it, 
and leavin;:: two or three siirewd sjiies to carefully locate 
any careless, drowsy or sleeping picket that might be found 
along the Union line ; the others reported to their master, 
all that they had seen or heartl : how that the Sth Corps was 
without canip-gu.ird, that the lytli was under marching cirtlers 
ami that their picket line was through a large piece of timber- 
land, with such other information as they had been able to 
gather. 

As soon a.'--, having heard their reports, General P'arly's 
[ilans were quickly formed ; he immediately sent out orders 
f(i,- ammunition and rations to be issued to all of the men, anti 
that all of the Colonels should hold their regiments in readiness 
to march in light marching order, and for the batteries to be 
in readmess : then selecting some nf the shrewdest, bravest 
and most trust}- men, he orderetl them to attire themselves in 
the uniforms of Union soldiers, and placing them under the 
command of some of his most discreel ,uul lrusl\' aitis, ordered 
them under cover on the night of the uSth, to a])proach as 
near as possible to the Union lines, without being observetl ; 
to throw a parallel picket line along the front of the Union line 
that under the guise of friends they might intercept and hold 
any I'nion spies that might attempt Ui pass to or from the 



11 

rebel armv, and lo hold a reserve in the centre of the woods, 
and await further orders. 

Waiting ])atientlv until after miiiniglit, to avoid liie |}ossi- 
bility of his moveinents being discovered, and the alarm given 
to the Union army, he quickly and quietly concentrated all 
of his forces in and behind the forest, and after learning froin 
his sjiies that they had located several Union pickets who had 
fallen asleep, he ordered the spies to lead as many files of 
soldiers as (iiossible) stealthily, on to the sleeping pickets and 
to capture or kill them, without making any alarm or noise; 
to force from any faint-hcartetl ones the Union countersign ; 
lo leave two rebels on each post thus captured, who by strategy 
should keep the Union pickets on either side of them from 
discovering the change. As soon as this was accomjilished 
he marched a company of disguised rebels through one of the 
gaps, and boKlly approached the watchful Union jiickets from 
inside the lines, with the right countersign, and reiirescnting 
themselves as a relief ]>ickel guard from one of the other corps 
that had been sent lo relieve them, so that they could march 
with their corps, ordered them to fall in the rear, where they 
were carefulb' received, disarmed and kept ipiiet, uiukr pen 
altv of immediate death. When a sufficient opening hail thus 
been made, (leneral Karly carefully and quickly marcheil his 
infantrv through It ; ordereil his cavalry and artillery to move 
up as quietly as possible, within supporting distance. Hanked 
the other corps, and took a position close by and on all sides 
of the Sth corps, who, as well as the other corps, lay hushed 
in quiet slumber, unconscious of danger ; some of the soldiers 
dreaming of peace, some of war, some greeted again their 



12 

fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters ; some hastening to the 
hiinie of their love — clasped again in love's long embrace. 
Tlie idol of their hearts, poor souls! this was their last em- 
brace, for the cruel fates of war soon robbctl them of the 
possibility of ever meeting again on this earth. 

Others fought over again the battles of former days, and 
amid hail storms of shot, shell and canister, and the rattling 
of musketry over the bodies of the dead and d}ing, friends 
and foes, with bayonets fixed, and every muscle and nerve at 
its higest tension, boldly charged into the rebel ranks. I have 
heard it said, that some dreams are freighted with realism, and 
thus it was with theirs ; for at the earliest ilawn of day. the 
rebel army fell on to the unguarded and sleeping 8tli C'urps 
with demoniac fury. Hundreds were shot ami hayonetcd 
before they were fairly awake, or could get on their accoutre- 
ments, or grasp their guns. Hundreds llrd wiiliout guns or 
accoutrements; many of whom were shot as they lied. The 
whole of the 8th Cor])s was thrown into confusion, and a 
large portion were taken jirisoners : the balance beat a tlis- 
orderlv retreat. 'I'lie lyth grasped their arms, and atlenipted 
to form a line of defence, but before they could get into 
])osition, they were ])elted with a sti-irm of shot, grape and 
canister from the rebel batteries which had come into position ; 
also by those which hail been captured from the 8th C'orjis and 
assailed, and (Linked by the onsurging hordes of rebel infantry, 
were thus forced to make a hasty retreat, tlefending them- 
selves as heroically as possible under the circumstances ; and 
covering the fleeing 8th, they fell back some two miles or more 
and took a jiosition on the second riilge towards W'incliesler. 



13 

The 6lli Corps, under command of General Rickett, (who 
was wounded in the breast early in the day) were hurridly got 
into ranks and ra|)idly marched U> the scene of contlict, antl 
arrived in lime to see the retreating lyth stubbornly resisting, 
but constantly giving way and falling back towards Winchester, 
and the rebels in possession of both of the camps, with many 
l)risoners and some eighteen guns, and everything in the 
wildest commotion. 

General Rickett soon discovered that he was to be made 
the special object of Early's warmest regards. Hurriedly getting 
liis troops into line under a galling fire of shot and grape from 
the rebel batteries, and none too soon to meet the rapidly ad- 
vancing infantry, they boldly and bravely withstood the onset, 
reluming bullet for bullet, blow for blow, and bayonet thrust 
for thrust, and although furiously assailed on front and Hank 
by overwhelming numbers, they for a time beat back and held 
in check Early's whole army, thus relieving the 19th hum 
eminent danger, and giving them time to take and hold a new 
position. Ihil ihcy were soon so hartl pressed and llankcd b\' 
the victorious enemy, that they were compelled to give way. 
Stubbornly contesting ever\ ft)(>t of the ground, thev fell 
back to the brow of the hill, where they bravely held their 
position, in defiance of everj' effort niaile to drive them. Our 
arlillcrv , u here were lhe\-, when prompt action was so nece.ssarv .•' 
Ah! iMorpheus had spread Ins deadening wings over them, too. 
Oh 1 iIkiu guardian angel, why hast thou not soundeil forth 
thy bugle notes of alarm, art thou also aslee]).' Nay, but their 
cars are dull, anil they would not hear ni\ notes of warning. 
.\nil lhu> the artillerymen were asleep, the horses were asleep. 



14 

and even the guns that shrmld have been speaking m tones dI" 
thuntlcr, and vomiting rorlii messengers of death and carnage, 
were asleep, with no one standing by to awake them ; and 
thus many of the ginis ( I think eighteen ) and horses fell an 
easy prey to the rebel horde. And in that ill-lated and de- 
serted camp, hell reigned supreme for the space of about three 
hours. 

Where is General Sheridan, the impulsive, indomitable 
Sheridan .•' Late in the evening of the iSth, he arrived in Win- 
chester, from Washington ; finding no reports from the front 
to indicate the need or knowledge of his i)resence there, 
wear}- w ith traveling, and in need of rest, he retired, to sleep. 
Without his own officers at the front, or the rebels knowing of 
his return, his peaceful slumber was disturbed at early dawn 
by the distant roar of artillerv, which was a message to his 
quick ears that he was needed at the front. Hastily attiring 
himself, and springing into the saddle, without waiting for 
aids or orderlies, he turned the head of his war-horse towards 
the front. 

.\s sweeps the' tornado over the landscape, so swe]it Shcriihin 
and his foaming charger, over the intervening miles between 
himself and his retreating army, through MidiUeton, and on 
the northern slope of the ritlge, he met tiie demoralized Sth 
Corps interspersed with men from the 19th and 6lh. Ileeing for 
their very lives. Without slackening his speed, his clarion 
voice rang out rei)catcdlv, ' ' To the front men I to the front ! )i lu 
shall sleep in your old quarters to night ! " His voice and pres- 
ence, was like a j)owerful current of electricitv in its magical 
effects on the fleeing men, who caught his inspiration, and the 



15 

most of them turned and boldly advanced to the front, and 
was soon formed into lines of battle, made up indiscriminate!)' 
of men without regard to what regiments they belonged, and 
were ranged behind those brave men, that with a perfect con- 
sciousness of having already sustained an overwhelming dis- 
aster, but with a knowledge that they were on the side of God 
and Liberty, were nobly and resolutely holding and defending 
the brow of the hills. When General Sheridan slackened his 
pace, and halteil on the top of the hill, amid a storm ofbullcts, 
shot and shell, where he could take a survey of the whole field, 
and his faithful soldiers discovered their noble commander, 
seated on what appeared like a small white cloud, but was 
really his foam-covered charger, there rang nut such shouts 
along the whole line as could not have been evoked by the 
re-enforcement of a whole corps of soldiers. General Sheridan's 
plans were quickly made and executed ; sending his whole 
cavalry force on a tlctour with orders for thcni to vigorously 
attack the rebel left flank, then carefully supervising the ar- 
rangement of his whole line, and waiting only long enough 
for the cavalry to reach their point of attack, he boldly and 
rapidly advanced his whole line, antl fell like an avenging 
angel upon the exultant rebels, wh<;i had flattered themselves 
that the Union army was so thoroughly tiemoralized, that they 
had only to throw out their nets and scoop them in like fish. 
They were neithir exjiecting nor prepared for such an on- 
slaught, and before iliey hail time to comprehend the situation 
and prepare for it, tiny were as utterly routed and demoralized, 
and as fearfully slaugluercd as the Union army had been in the 
morning. They lost all of the prisoners and guns that they 



16 

had captured in the morning;, and whicli in their flattered 
security they had not thought it necessary to send to the rear, 
and a great many of their own men and guns besides. In 
their haste to get over the bridge tliat crossed Cedar Creek, 
they crowded eacii other and llieir horses and guns over tlie 
sides, inio the "creek ; in fact, liic\- were as panic stricken as 
il'tlie tiav of judgment hat! suddenly burst upon them. 

Tlius, a defeat was turneti inti) a \iclor\- ; a dire calaniit\-. 
into a triumph : rejoicing filled the hearts of those who had 
been snrrowful, and loud shouts of victory! victory! rang 
tlirough the okl camps. liut wlial ol the thoughtless, heedless, 
sleeping, Sth Corps.' ]Man\' of llicir bndies lay cold antl sLark : 
the light of whose eyes was gone out into utter darkness, and 
the drums of whose ears could never again hear the encouiag- 
ing voice, nor the approving words of their great and good 
leader. 

The watchful and the faithful rejoiced in their salvation : 
but the heedless, the disobedient, and the sleepers bodies 
were cast into trenches to be trodden over by men. 

Oh! mv brother, oh! my sister, as ilicd these sleeping 
soldiers, so dies the Christian soldier, who neglects lo keep on 
the breast plate of righteousness ; w lio Iim\ is olf Hu- lulnul o| 
salvation; who fails to keep on ih.- niinour ol ( iods word, 
and falls asleep in the camp of Zion. Chrisl, the righleous 
judge, .shall c oiiic down in ilic pow < i ol 1 I is iin;;lil ; 1 lis l.iiih- 
liil and ilioscii liosis, shall be marshaled and led on lioiii 
\itlor)- nnlo \ iclory — from rejoicing unto evi'ilasliiig anil ini- 
measurablc joys. lUit llii' fiithless and the slolhlnl, sIkiII be 
eiigidird inio everlasting darkness and despair W'hal a dan- 



17 

genius aiul fearful comlition (or a t'linsiiaii in l.o fomiil in. 
asleep in Zimi. Not only in daiii,'ci- of llie assaults ni' satan, 
but also expiiSLiI Ui (Joil's antjer aiul cdnileiiinaliun. Wliu 
lias hreatlioil nut lliMat.Miini,'s a.;;ainst ili.ni Imm tiie liei^'iiinini^. 
■■ Tliey are barren trees, imh iinilK-rin;,' the L;r-. umu! with, .ut \ irhl 
in.i; any fruit, therefore siiall tiu-y he liewn dnwn, ami last inio 
liie fire," sailii the Lord. Kinply \ehieles blockiu;; the mad to 
salvatinn, will n.ither umve on themselves, nor make room 
for others to pass, 'rherelore, shall the I,..i,| in lli> anger 
remove them. 

'• I would that ye were either cold or h.>t, but becau.se of 
your lukewarmncss, 1 will spew you out of ]\Iy mouth," saith 
the Lord. 

Christ would much radier have \ou U< be an outspoken 
enemy, whom He could conquer by His power and love, than 
a sleepin.g, worthless friend, of whom He can make no use. 

Now, brethren, these are not cunningly devised fables, lo 
tickle your eyes and cars, ami feed your imaginations, but 
ihey are solid truths from heaven, and facts from earth, which 
I do speak forth in sobriety and candor, telling you of the 
thin.gs that I have seen anil heard. Vea, that I have felt and 
sulVcrcd in my own boih- and soul. 

Oh ! m\ Lord, is there no escape from this demon, this 
destroyer of the present, and the future ha|)piness of mankind.^ 
Listen, hear the answer of the Lord ourdod : 

"Whosoever will come, may come, and partake oi the 
Waters of Life, freely. ' 

" Whosoever believeth on Me, and that the Father sent Me' 



18 

anil keejieth My comniandmcnts, halli everlasting life. He 
that believeth not, is danineil, already." 

To as many as l)elie\e on His name, gave He power to 
become sons of God. 

For all power is given unto Christ Jesus to judge the quick 
and the dead ; to give life everlasting to as many as believe on 
His name and seek after righteousness, and also to bind and 
cast the devil and all of his followers that do not repent, into 
a pit of never-entling ilarkness and desjniir. But Cjod has de- 
clared, that He lakes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but 
that He would, that all men should repent and be saved. 
For which reason, and His great love for us, while we were 
yet sinners, God freely gave His own, antl only begotten son 
for a sacrifice and an atonement, that we might escape through 
faith in Him, the just reward of our manifold sins and trans- 
gressions. And there is no other way given, neither in Heaven, 
nor anmng men, whereby we can escape, and be saved. But 
Christ has declared, "except we become as little children, we 
shall in no wise enter the kingdom of Heaven." That is, we 
must first feel our need of salvation, of the forgiveness and love 
of God, and our dependence on Him ; we must also have im- 
plicit faith, confidence and trust; as a child looks to, and 
leans on its father and mother for what it wants antl needs, so 
we should have implicit faith in Gotl's love and ability to do 
all things for us ; and as a child is rcipiireil ( or should be) to 
bentl and \ield its will to the will of its parents, so we should, 
and must yield ours to God's. We also must lay aside all 
self righteousness ; for Christ has declared, that there is none 
good ; no not one. For all have sinned and come short, (that 



19 



is, there are none perfect in the sight of God), and Hu a-lso de- 
clared, that He came not to save the righteous, but to bring 
sinners to repentance. 

We must also lay aside our pride ; and why not ? For what 
is man when he stands before Ciod ? Not so much as an angle 
or ground wurm is when compared to man. And God has 
told us, that He resists the proud ; that the proud hcartshall he 
brought low. And what are we, when God's power is brongiit 
against us? David said, that we are as the dust of the earth, 
before God ; like the dust of the earth which is blown hither 
and thither, before the wind. Nevertheless, we are assun.-d. 
because God has created us in 11. s own Hkeness. that we. our 
souls, are precious in His sight, and that His mercy and loving 
kindness is from everlasting unto everlasting to them that love 
and serve Him. And He does not ask our service for naught. 
But Paul tells us, that all things are ours ; that if we are Goii's, 
and God is ours ; that the earth and the fullness thereof which 
belongs to God, is ours. Yea, more, for Heaven is ours ; 
the present is ours, and the future is ours ; and if we endure 
faithful to the entl, God has promised that we should reign with 
Him. and wear a crown of glory. Therefore, my brother, let us 
make haste to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold of the 
Rock, Christ Jesus, by faith, while we are called to-day. For 
to-day, is the day of salvation ; the present is the acceptable, 
and the only acceptable time. Then harden not your hearts, 
but accept Christ while He maybe fond of you ; for He has de- 
clared, that His spirit shall not always strive with man, but that 
He will at some fixed time, which may be the present with vou, 
for aught you know. Leave the trifler, the mocker, and the 



20 

rejecier alone, lo tlie Iwaliicss of iliL-ir licarts. 'I'liat tliusc who 
rfject Him, He will rcjei't, :iiul lliat llicsu who tumk al Imn, He 
will mock when tear cunus U|ioii them. How leariulK' (hni.i;er- 
oiis it is for voii, m\ li'dllier, to Jelav lurone moimiit ; lor (iiid 
is a jealous CjulI, jealous of His glory, ol His honor, and of 
His just recognition and adoiatioii, by His created and lawful 
subjects. It is dan_i;erMti.v, my biothei, to mile wiih (iud, and 
reject His profiered mercy lest our cup ol iniquilv be declared 
full, and we be cut oft" without a moment's warning. 

I beseech von, therefore, my brother, in the name of Ciiiist, 
to repent of your sins, and accept God's merev. throni;h faith 
in His son, Christ the Lord of all, and to do il ihiw wiihont one 
moment's delay ; for when the door of salvation is closed against 
vou, there will be no more opening, neither is there anv other 
possible way of escape. 

Oh, God ! I know not, care not, v;ha.l ioo/i others may ask ; 
but as for me, give me wisdom, to love and serve Thee aright, 
for Christ sake, Aincn. 

Vour humble servant, 

Truman B. Dkxms. 



It is tlie jtnrposc of the author, to place this pamphlet 
wiihin the reach of every person who may iiave a desire to 
read it. and for that reason he lias publishetl it himself, and 
offers it to the public at the followinc:: rates : 

I copy by mail. - - - - - .I2C. 

10 copies " " - - - - - $i.oo 

lOT " " express, - - - - 7.00 

1,000 " " " . - - - 60.00 

A iliscount to jobbers who can handle 5,000 or more; 
it can be IkhI by apiilyin,<i: to the Amkkicvn News Cojipaxy, 
39 — 43 Chambers -Street, New York. 

Or, to the author, 

T. I!, hf.xxis, 

No. yis'i I IrrkiiiiLT St., 

lii.M.klvii. N. Y. 



The author is now working; on a history which will contain 
from 700 to 800 pages of print, and about 50 full-page etch- 
ings, designed expiressly for the work on which the author has 
already secured a copyright under the title of 

THE TREE OF LIBERTY, 

How planted, how preserved, 

A Coursery and Poetic I'rose History, from the time of the landingof 

tlie Pilgrims to the present time of our birth and struggles for existence. 

Written with much care and study by 

Tkuman B. Dennis. 

This work will be prefaced with a short sketch, scanning 
the history of the discovery of America, and the political and 
religious events and persecutions in Europe, which compelled 
our forefathers to abandon their homes and seek shelter and 
freedom in the wilds of America. 

When published, on or before the first of April next, it will 
be substantially bound in cloth, and sold for $3.50. 

Also handsomely bound in sheep and morocco, with gilt 
edges and decorations on cover, and will be sold for ,^5.00 

Subscri])tions for the Tree of Eiberty may be sent to the 
author by mail or otherwise, any time on or before the first of 
March, 1890, accompanied by 25 cents, for cloth bimling, 
and 50 cents for leather and gilt bindings, an acknowledge- 
ment antl receipt for which will be immctiiately returned to 
siibscrilier by mail, and whidi will entitle the subscriber to 
receive one copy of the first ])uhlicatiiiu of the aloiesaid history, 
which will be forwarded b\' mail on receipt of the balance of. 
the aforesaid jirice, or liirwarded by express C. O. D. , at the 
option of the subscriber. 

A lilieral discount will be given to agents forwarding orders 
fur icu I ir more copies. 

All orders atul communications should be sent to 

T. B. DENNIS, New York City, 

Or, No. 956 Herkimer St., Brooklyn, N. V. 



' ^ -■ '- '-MSfiM^-. ■ 



UBRARY OF CONGRESS 



lllililliliiiliiliiilllinlliiiil 

QDQE5B753bb^ 








.'r'V.J ?.f 3.'» 



m^ 





